Take Part in the Beccles Triathlon Festival!
Are you ready to challenge yourself, push your limits, and be part of an incredible community of athletes? The Beccles Triathlon Festival is your chance to swim, bike, and run your way to an unforgettable experience—whether you’re a seasoned competitor or taking on your first multi-sport event.
Pick your challenge – Three exciting ways to push your limits!
Beccles Triathlon (classic Swim/Bike/Run)
The Beccles Triathlon is the heart of our festival, offering an exciting and rewarding challenge for both seasoned triathletes and first-timers. Starting with a swim in the beautiful Beccles Lido, competitors will then take on a bike course designed for ease of navigation—featuring only left turns to keep things flowing smoothly! The mostly flat ride on the way out allows you to build momentum before tackling the undulating return. The final run takes you along the scenic Waveney River and countryside tracks, providing stunning views as you push towards the finish line. With an incredible atmosphere, roaring crowds, and a strong community spirit, this is an unmissable event for any multisport enthusiast.
Beccles Aquabike (Swim/Bike – no run!) New for 2025
New for 2025, the Beccles Aquabike is perfect for athletes who enjoy the thrill of swimming and cycling without the run. After a swim in the Beccles Lido, competitors will head out on the same bike course as the triathletes, navigating left-turn-only roads for a smooth and safe ride. With a fast, mostly flat outward stretch and a more challenging return, this event is ideal for cyclists looking to test their endurance in a multisport format.
Beccles Aquathlon (Swim/Run– no bike!)
If you love swimming and running but prefer to skip the bike, then the Beccles Aquathlon is for you! This event kicks off with a refreshing swim in the Beccles Lido, followed by a run along the picturesque Waveney River and countryside trails. Whether you’re a triathlete looking to sharpen your swim-run skills or a newcomer eager to experience multisport racing, the Aquathlon is a fantastic way to get involved. Expect an exhilarating, supportive atmosphere and plenty of encouragement from spectators lining the route.
How to Register
Registration and the waiting list are managed through Entry Central, so when you click below, you’ll be directed to their website.
Missed out? Don’t panic! The same link will take you to the waiting list.
If we sell out (and we usually do!), you can still join the waiting list. Secure your spot on the waiting list now, because athletes plans do change and spaces become available. You could be next in line to join the action!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you have a question let us know, and we’ll answer it! admin@becclestri.com
In the meantime, here’s what we get asked most often, and some more we thought might be useful – including the questions that you may feel embarrassed to ask!
When you have successfully entered, then please refer to the Competitor Briefing, sent to your email and published on our website a few weeks prior to festival day for the full details of the day.
What time does it start?
The Triathlon and Aquabike will start at 8:30am. Aquathlon will start 15 minutes after the final swimmer from the Triathlon or Aquabike starts, we expect this to be approximately 10:45am. All three events start with the swim.
Swimmers will set off one after another at their allotted time, set according to their declared speed at registration. The slowest swimmers will set off first.
Although your event may start at 8:30, 10:45 or any time between, you will still need to arrive well before these times, so please check the competitor briefing for detailed timings.
How much is it to enter?
Triathlon – £58 for individuals, £87 for relay team (2 or 3 people).
Aquabike – £50 for individuals, £75 for relay team
Aquathlon – £40 for individuals, £60 for relay team
All entries are subject to Entry Central’s administration fee, plus an additional fee per person for mandatory insurance cover, provided by British Triathlon Federation (BTF). For BTF members, there is no additional insurance charge.
If you would instead like to join the BTF, click here to go to the BTF website.
How many competitors will there be?
Up to 200 for the Triathlon, 80 for the Aquathlon and 50 for the Aquabike – but if we are full DO join the waiting list! it’s amazing how many people have to drop out.
How old do I have to be?
You must be at least 17 on 31 December 2025, there is no maximum age. Our oldest competitor so far was 75 year old Gordon Merfield in 2013, who swam and biked then completed the run on crutches!
Will there be any merchandise available before or during the event?
There will be a stall selling t-shirts and vests from previous years. This will be open for the duration of registration and the event.
All entrants will also receive a water bottle and gym towel in their registration goodie-bag.
The BEST way to get to wear the COOLEST hoodies and swimming, cycling, running and Triathlon kit in the region is to join the Beccles Triathlon Club.
What about photographs of the event?
We hope to again have our fantastic VOLUNTEER photographers at the Lido and out on the course. Pictures from 2025 will be available after the event and are included in your entry fee – please contact us if you would like hi-res pics and we can put you into contact with the photographer.
I don’t want to enter the events but I’d love to help. What else could I do?
There’s lots of things! For instance, we will need Marshals on the day. Being a Marshal will not be hard or require any previous experience and should be a lot of fun.
To find out about being a marshal, Click here or Contact Us if you would like to find out more about other ways that you can help.
Why should I do a Multisport event?
Lots of reasons:
- Triathlon, Aquathlon and Aquabike are wonderful sports and not just for super athletes.
- They are great fun – your sense of achievement is fantastic!
- The camaraderie between new competitors is wonderful.
- Cross it off your bucket list: apparently that is how American actress Teri Hatcher motivated herself to manage one.
- If you do one you can always call yourself a ‘former Triathlete/Aquathlete/Aquabiker’ – no one needs to know how awesome you were … or weren’t!
- Unbelievably, the mornings – before everyone has woken up – can be quite majestic!
- They are hard but the pain is spread, so it’s not like running a marathon which will tax your knees and ankles.
- They are not just for hardcore athletes. Many people do their first Triathlon, Aquathlon or Aquabike in their 30s, 40s and later in life. (Like some of us!)
I haven’t done a Multisport event before. Can I join in?
Yes, please do. We are keen to encourage and support first-timers in getting to and completing their first race.
We have lots of first-timers compete every year in all of the events, with some even going on to compete in several more events up to ironman distance and even to represent Team GB at International and World Championship events.
Don’t be surprised if you get the bug!
How much training will I have to do?
This very much depends on what your aims are.
If you want to win, you will have to take your swimming, running and cycling seriously up until the big day itself.
If you just want to participate but not compete, then all you need to do is make sure you can swim 14 lengths of the lido (420m), that you have a roadworthy bike and you have it in your legs to cycle 12 miles, and make sure that you have enough puff to run/walk 4 miles at the end!
If you don’t think you can do all three, why not try the shortened version in the Aquabike (Swim/Bike) or Aquathlon (Swim/Run).
Can I stop along the way if I get tired?
Yes, if you need to.
On the swim you can rest at the end of each length. On the bike and run you can take your time or even stop for a rest as long as you consider others behind you.
Lifeguards and will be on hand if you need to get out of the water, and marshals on hand to help you around the bike and run courses.
I can’t swim front crawl!
You don’t need to! Breaststroke (or even butterfly) is equally acceptable. Back crawl is not allowed.
All we ask is that you are truthful in estimating the time it will take you to swim. This way we can put you in a lane with others who will swim at a similar speed to you. There is room to tell us this on your application form.
How will I know how many lengths I’ve swum/which way to go on the bike and run?
The swim course will comprise 14 lengths, swum in a zig-zag.
Triathlon and Aquabike swimmers will set off one at a time, at 30 second intervals. Starting from the far side of the pool, they will get into a narrow holding lane, then duck under the lane rope ready to start. They will then swim up and down the first of 7 lanes, duck under the lane rope at the shallow end into the next lane and swim back up then down again for lengths 3 and 4. This will repeat until they have reached the near side of the pool and completed 14 lengths. They will then exit on the near side of the pool via the steps.
Aquathlon will follow the same as the triathlon and aquabike, however the swim will start at the near side of the pool, with the exit at the steps on far side, which is the Aquathlon transition area.
This format has been adopted by most of the other pool-based Triathlons/Aquabike events in the region and it removes the confusion over lengths swam, is easier to marshal, and allows everyone to get out of the pool easier.
Swimmers will set off according to the time they advise us they expect to swim 400m, so there shouldn’t be too much congestion in the pool.
For the rest of the event, plenty of Marshals will be on hand with water, humour (and sympathy) to help you through, plus a huge amount of big obvious signs to help your along the way.
What special gear do I need?
Swimming costume or trunks, a pair of trainers, and for Triathletes/Aquabikers a roadworthy bike, a cycle helmet that carries a standard safety mark. That’s it really!
Optional: Swim goggles/face mask, cycle shoes, cycle goggles, cycle gloves, race belt, heart rate monitor, cycle sat nav, water bottles, spare clothes for after the race, a towel.
Personal music systems such as iPods are NOT allowed.
It’s a good idea to bring a towel to set out your gear on next to your bike in transition.
I don’t usually wear a helmet when out cycling. Do I have to wear one in the race?
Yes. Under British Triathlon Federation rules helmets must be worn at all times. NO HELMET, NO RACE.
Are tandems or fixed wheel bikes allowed?
No. Tandems are permitted for certain categories of para-athletes, so please contact us.
What is transition?
The transition area is the section of the course that is set out to hold your kit to change between the different stages of the event.
For Triathletes/Aquabikers the transition area will be set up in the lido car park. It will hold your bike and kit for all three stages of the triathlon race. You will use this area twice, once to change from your swim to your bike, and the second time from your bike to your run. Triathlon transitions always have an ‘in’ and an ‘out’, and these must be obeyed. Aquabikers will also need to run the short distance from where their bike is racked and out of transition to the finish line on Puddingmoor.
When approaching the transition for the first time with your bike and kit, the marshals will check your bike and your helmet, and show you the correct entrance and exit. They will also need to see all of these when you exit with all of your kit after the race – this is ensure no one else takes your bike and possessions!
For Aquathletes, transition will hold your trainers etc for you change into as you exit the swim. The area will be by the side of the pool and you will then exit through the main transition area to the run course.
Where do I park on the day?
As Puddingmoor, the road next to the Lido, will be closed to traffic during the event we organise car parking for competitors and spectators nearby, but otherwise there are lots of local car parks. Please click here for more details.
Can I bring my friends and family along to watch and cheer me along?
Please do! The more spectators the merrier. They will be able to watch you swim at the lido and then watch you exit/enter on the bike as well as the run, before lining the finishing line.
Or take a look at our routes and encourage them to cheer you on.
Refreshments will be available throughout the day at the Lido.
A Triathlon is a swim, then a bike, then a run – can I do it the other way round?
No. All of the events start with the swim, followed by bike and/or run. For the triathlon is must be Swim-Bike-Run.
What will happen before the race?
It’s a good idea to get to the start well ahead of your allotted start time – we recommend at least an hour. You must attend the registration tent to receive your race number and timing chip.
Then it’s time to rack your bike and familiarise yourself with the layout of transition. This area will close for competitors approximately 20-30minutes before the event starts. If you arrive after this time, you will not be allowed to enter as it will interfere with the other participants.
Around 20 minutes before your start time you will be called to the pool area and invited to warm up in the training’ pool. Five minutes before you are due to start you will be called to the poolside and allocated a lane to swim in.
And afterwards?
You will be asked to relinquish your timing chip as you cross the finish line. You can check your official time and where you finished online a few minutes later.
Then you are free to watch others finish/soak up the glory with your nearest and dearest in the Lido grounds, where food and soft refreshments will be available at the Cafe.
A presentation to all winners will be made around half-an-hour after the last person crosses the finish line. Photographs from the day will be available a few days after the event.
What is a timing chip?
Each competitor and team will be loaned a timing chip for the event which will be attached to the competitor’s left leg (so as not to get tangled in the chain for Triathletes/Aquabikers) with a Velcro strap.
This will record times for the swim, and/or cycle and/or run leg separately as well as transition times. This will be the official timing for the race and will determine the overall winners.
How do team entries work?
One person will do the swim then hand over the team’s timing chip to the person doing the cycle (or for aquathletes, the run). After the bike leg, Triathletes will hand over the chip to the team’s runner; Aquabikers will wear the chip until they run across the finish line after racking their bike.
Each team member will be told on the day where to stand. Teams can be male, female or mixed. 2 person relay teams will also be permitted with one of the team members doing 2 (any 2) of the disciplines.
Am I insured?
The British Triathlon Federation (BTF) race license that you buy with your entry fee covers you for third-party insurance on the day. If you require more you will need to take out your own insurance.
If you are already a BTF member you don’t need to take out a day license. If you would like to join the BTF, click here to go to the BTF website.
Where can I learn more about Multisport before the big day?
Why not come and join Beccles Triathlon Club, where you can get together and train through the winter and spring under the expert supervision of qualified coaches, and alongside other Tri-newbies as well as seasoned Multisport athletes, all keen to encourage you and let you know what to expect. Click here for more information.
Any Medical advice?
Completing a Multisport event and training for a Triathlon, or an Aquathlon or Aquabike, is physically demanding.
As a competitor it is important that you are physically capable of undertaking a challenge of this nature.
Still didn’t find what you were looking for? Click here to Contact Us.
